Tai Chi: The Need for a Soft Revolution

"Every generation deserves a new revolution", said Thomas Jefferson and although some of you may point a finger to the heavens and squeak (from behind a sofa)... "ehm, excuse me, but what about that Russell Brand fellow or that PODEMOS group in Spain or SYRIZA in Greece"...

I’d have to point out, that we are in fact talking about a martial art in this blog post, and not an economic order (alas). For, in recent times, I don’t think (and this is just my own humble opinion) we can honestly slap ourselves on our backs (not physically possible) nor congratulate ourselves on how far we have collectively edged the Tai Chi movement into mainstream consciousness. Tai Chi still occupies the slow lane of the martial arts; it still drags its feet when in the ring with Yoga; it is still too often confused with beancurd or fried seaweed. Perhaps it’s time we had a someone come along and fuse together a new style of Tai Chi? Watch the video and read more...

The Origins of Styles ("I only have eyes for you"... and your satin suit, master)

Styles revolt. It's in their nature to do so, unless artificially held back. Look at a brief history of Tai Chi: Revolutionary Change Number 1: Chang San Feng the immortal founder and his companion the Orangutan.Let's face it, if Chang San Feng did in fact exist, according to legend, he only re-arranged a series of static postures, copied a few animals he saw wandering the bamboo forests and merely stuck them together with a bit of glue. Hardly the most revolutionary or creative act in the history of the martial arts. But hey, who am I to argue with an immortal or his ape?Revolutionary Change Number 2: The ChensThe ghostly wisps of the newly created form, as maintained and taught by the simian sole survivor, finally settled in THE VILLAGE (Who is number 1?) of the Chens. Then, for the next umpteen centuries it stayed behind closed walls as a fossilised and stagnant system - not unlike the royal families of Europe today. Revolutionary Change Number 3: Yang Lu Chan and his Stolen Style.Then along came the brash outsider, Yang Lu Chan, who spied on the village of the Chens and eventually nicked their moves and claimed them for his own. Today he would have had his pants sued off him, but back then it was ok to copy and paste - and maybe - it meant that things could still evolve at a healthier pace. Revolutionary Change Number 4: Cheng Man Ching drags the art into the second half of the 20th centuryFinally, after a series of scuffles about whether the art could, or could not, deflect speeding bullets or leap tall buildings in a single bound, Tai Chi eventually got fed up with the whole argument and went west. But for all his troubles, poor old Cheng still got harassed for shortening the Tai Chi Form to a western audience (even though he did it first in Taiwan). Despite his success at introducing a new art, our western collective deference to eastern mysticism and the martial arts since the 1960’s, meant it has never again stepped outside the confines of 19th century China. I mean, just look at all those satin suits will ‘yer?

2015 and maybe, just maybe a New Year after-all.

So come on boys and girls, step off the golden path and go learn a different style this year. Pix and Mix. Open up the creaky doors of tradition and sweep away the dusty cobwebs of lineage to fuse a new style of tai chi - relevant to the 21st century.

Contrary to popular belief, the teapotmOnk (paul read) is neither a mOnk nor a teapOt. He is, however, a writer on Tai Chi, speaker, course-creator & teacher with more than 25 years of experience. He can be found wandering between Andalucia (Spain) & Devon (Uk). More here.​Contact him here or keep in touch, subscribe for some great Tai Chi stuff delivered to your inbox. ​